Aston Villa vs West Ham - LIVE!

Aston Villa maintained their Champions League charge with a thumping 4-1 win over West Ham. Douglas Luiz's brace, including a second-half penalty, plus goals from Ollie Watkins and Leon Bailey moved them to fifth in the Premier League - just two points off top spot.

Jarrod Bowen's deflected effort made it 2-1 but the hosts recovered for Watkins to smash in a crucial third before Bailey wrapped things up late on. The Hammers, now five points adrift of Villa, slipped to just a third defeat of the season after struggling to match the hosts.

Villa had waited long enough for a victory over the Hammers, their bogey side. They had recorded just one win in the last 10 years, a 1-0 victory when Villa were already on the slide in 2015, but under Unai Emery they are a different beast, having now 11 straight home league in the Premier League.

Aston Villa vs West Ham latest news

• GOAL! Watkins restores two-goal lead

• GOAL! Bowen gives West Ham hope

• GOAL! Second for Luiz from penalty spot

• GOAL! Luiz fires Villa in front

FT: Aston Villa 4-1 West Ham

18:28 , Matt Verri

That's 11 wins in a row for Villa!

Another superb performance and they are now just two points off the top of the Premier League.

Aston Villa 4-1 West Ham

18:24 , Matt Verri

90+4 mins: Coufal down holding his face, got an elbow from Digne as they both challenged in the air.

Referee eventually stops play, West Ham man will need some treatment.

Aston Villa 4-1 West Ham

18:21 , Matt Verri

90+1 mins: Seven minutes added on.

Just what West Ham wanted to see...

GOAL! Aston Villa 4-1 West Ham | Leon Bailey 89'

18:19 , Matt Verri

That really does seal it!

Brilliant footwork from Bailey, jinks away from the white shirts in the box and curls the finish into the top corner. Too good for Aguerd.

Aston Villa 3-1 West Ham

18:16 , Matt Verri

86 mins: Ings is in for the final few minutes against his former club, replacing Paqueta.

Will be Antonio on the left, Ings down the middle alongside Kudus and Bowen on the right.

West Ham going down swinging.

Aston Villa 3-1 West Ham

18:13 , Matt Verri

83 mins: There was a real intensity to the match before that Watkins goal... pace has disappeared a bit since.

Villa very much in charge, they look well capable of seeing this match out.

Aston Villa 3-1 West Ham

18:10 , Matt Verri

80 mins: They nearly get it!

Antonio too strong for Cash, whips an effort towards the far corner from a tight angle.

Parried out, Bowen not far away from being on hand to nod that into an empty net.

Aston Villa 3-1 West Ham

18:08 , Matt Verri

77 mins: Still time for West Ham to respond, but feels like that goal has really taken the sting out of things.

Visitors need one back... quickly.

GOAL! Aston Villa 3-1 West Ham | Ollie Watkins 74'

18:04 , Matt Verri

Out of nothing!

Villa back in charge. McGinn clips a ball through to Watkins, onto his left foot in the box and he hammers the finish beyond Areola at the near post.

Aston Villa 2-1 West Ham

18:03 , Matt Verri

73 mins: West Ham continue to win corner after corner.

Ward-Prowse gets a bit too much on this one though, Martinez can claim comfortably enough. And he's stayed down, holding... not sure he really knows what he's holding.

He's fine though.

Aston Villa 2-1 West Ham

18:01 , Matt Verri

71 mins: Antonio holds the ball up, turns and this time he does run at Torres.

On the outside, low ball into the six-yard box and Cash slides in at the back post to turn it behind for a corner.

Villa really on the ropes...

Malik Ouzia at Villa Park

18:01 , Matt Verri

It's a completely different game this now. West Ham have Villa right under the pump.

Aston Villa 2-1 West Ham

18:00 , Matt Verri

70 mins: Dear me. Martinez takes an age on the ball, Ward-Prowse charging in to close him down... goalkeeper just about makes the pass instead.

Frantic feel to this game now and still 20 minutes to go!

Aston Villa 2-1 West Ham

17:57 , Matt Verri

67 mins: Here we go, moment West Ham fans have been waiting for.

Kudus is on for the visitors, replacing Soucek.

Aston Villa 2-1 West Ham

17:56 , Matt Verri

66 mins: On we go. Didn't touch anyone's arm, so would have been a fairly harsh penalty...

Wonderful deliver from Ward-Prowse when play does resume, flicked behind for yet another corner. West Ham midfielder jogs over to take this one too from the other side.

Another great ball, Bowen heads over the bar.

Aston Villa 2-1 West Ham

17:55 , Matt Verri

65 mins: Aguerd with a volley from a corner, Cash throws himself in front of it to head the ball behind for another set-piece.

VAR having a look at a possible handball...

Aston Villa 2-1 West Ham

17:53 , Matt Verri

63 mins: Brilliant again from Paqueta, turns Zaniolo and fires the pass to Antonio.

He has a chance to run at the defence, turns back though and the momentum completely goes.

Malik Ouzia at Villa Park

17:51 , Matt Verri

Lucas Paqueta's been shifted centrally since the goal and it's made a world of difference.

Aston Villa 2-1 West Ham

17:51 , Matt Verri

60 mins: West Ham all over Aston Villa now.

Flying into challenges, pressing right up the pitch. Completely different feel to the game.

Zaniolo stops that... down holding his head. Play stopped, absolutely no contact to his head. Madness.

Malik Ouzia at Villa Park

17:48 , Matt Verri

We've seen a couple of comebacks from 2-0 down already in the Premier League this weekend.

Another on the cards?

GOAL! Aston Villa 2-1 West Ham | Jarrod Bowen 56'

17:47 , Matt Verri

WELL THEN!

Bowen tries his luck from distance, takes a huge deflection and spins into the far corner beyond Martinez.

Game on.

Aston Villa 2-0 West Ham

17:45 , Matt Verri

55 mins: West Ham have not got going since the break.

Emerson now into the book, as he cynically halts Cash's run. That will mean a suspension for the left-back.

Aston Villa 2-0 West Ham

17:44 , Matt Verri

53 mins: Luiz just lifted that spot-kick down the middle, after strolling up to the ball.

West Ham in big trouble now - how long until we see Kudus?

Malik Ouzia at Villa Park

17:42 , Matt Verri

David Moyes said a couple of weeks ago that Lucas Paqueta is brilliant but drives him mad at times.

Suspect this is one of those.

GOAL! Aston Villa 2-0 West Ham

17:41 , Matt Verri

Luiz doubles the lead!

He cannot stop scoring..... Villa have real control now.

PENALTY ASTON VILLA!

17:40 , Matt Verri

Referee took his time, looks at the linesman... penalty!

Paqueta with a poor pass, Konsa beats Alvarez to the ball in the West Ham box and goes down. He was just about tripped.

Aston Villa 1-0 West Ham

17:39 , Matt Verri

49 mins: It's been all Villa since the restart.

Diaby again causing problems, low ball into the middle and Zouma does well to deflect the shot from Watkins behind for a corner.

Aston Villa 1-0 West Ham

17:37 , Matt Verri

47 mins: Paqueta with a needless trip on Cash, free-kick for Villa in a good position out on the right.

Digne takes it short to Luiz, hosts a bit too clever for their own good this time and West Ham clear.

Back underway!

17:35 , Matt Verri

Up and running for the second-half!

Good company to keep...

17:28 , Matt Verri

Been some year for Ollie Watkins!

Luiz at it again!

17:25 , Matt Verri

The first Aston Villa player to score in six consecutive Premier League home matches.

HT: Aston Villa 1-0 West Ham

17:20 , Matt Verri

That's half-time.

Villa on top and got the goal they deserved through Luiz, but West Ham have come back into it since.

Definitely feel their will be chances for them to get back into this.

Aston Villa 1-0 West Ham

17:18 , Matt Verri

45+1 mins: Two-on-two for Villa, Diaby and Watkins up against the West Ham centre-backs.

Diaby out wide, running at Zouma... ball into the area isn't a great one. Should have made more of that.

Two minutes added on.

Aston Villa 1-0 West Ham

17:17 , Matt Verri

44 mins: That's a real waste.

Aguerd pings a lovely ball out to Coufal, who chops inside past Zaniolo.

Bowen pulls off to the penalty spot, Coufal whips it across the face of goal though and Fabianski can claim.

Malik Ouzia at Villa Park

17:15 , Matt Verri

There would have been controversy had that gone in because it was obvious from the need for a VAR check that the handball was only centimetres outside the box.

Ward-Prowse took it from about a metre outside so he'd have more space to get it over the wall and back down and the Villa bench were grumbling away to the fourth official.

Aston Villa 1-0 West Ham

17:14 , Matt Verri

41 mins: VAR check eventually confirms what everyone saw after watching the replay once.

Ward-Prowse the man to take this, of course. He's moved back a couple of yards to give himself a better angle, not sure why the referee has let that happen.

Doesn't matter in the end, straight into the wall.

Aston Villa 1-0 West Ham

17:12 , Matt Verri

39 mins: Rare chance for West Ham to attack, as Soucek's effort deflects away for a corner.

Ward-Prowse puts it into a great area, headed out to the edge of the area. Alvarez drills the shot back in, Konsa charges out and he blocks it with his arm... about three inches outside the area.

Just a free-kick.

Aston Villa 1-0 West Ham

17:08 , Matt Verri

36 mins: Zaniolo finds space in midfield yet again, Ward-Prowse gets back but he can only drag the Villa man down.

Free-kick in a great position for the hosts, Diaby and Digne standing over it.

Clever routine though, both walk away. Luiz to Kamara, lays it off to McGinn and he fires wide.

Aston Villa 1-0 West Ham

17:05 , Matt Verri

33 mins: West Ham need to be really careful here.

Villa are up after that goal, they coming flooding forward again. Watkins drives inside the box, this time it's a really good save from Areola to deny him.

Malik Ouzia at Villa Park

17:03 , Matt Verri

You can't be too harsh on Areola because it does take a little nick off Aguerd but with a stronger hand he probably keeps that out anyway.

GOAL! Aston Villa 1-0 West Ham | Douglas Luiz 30'

17:02 , Matt Verri

It's been coming!

Watkins out wide, lays the ball back to Zaniolo. He plays it to Watkins, flicked inside to Luiz and his strike finds a way through Areola.

Goalkeeper really should have saved that.

Aston Villa 0-0 West Ham

17:00 , Matt Verri

28 mins: That's... not great.

Zaniolo from 25 yards out, in space and decides to let fly. The ball just about stays inside the stadium.

Malik Ouzia at Villa Park

16:58 , Matt Verri

All very arm's lengths at the moment. Villa controlling things but West Ham, as you'd expect, look very well organised.

In fact, the home side have looked most dangerous when John McGinn's been able to drive through the middle of the pitch on the break.

Aston Villa 0-0 West Ham

16:57 , Matt Verri

25 mins: Paqueta has already produced three of four lovely flicks to get himself out of trouble. So, so good.

It's otherwise been fairly dominant stuff from Villa though, they've had nearly all of the ball and have pushed the visitors right back.

Aston Villa 0-0 West Ham

16:54 , Matt Verri

22 mins: Succession of corners for Villa. They win the first header each time, can't create a clear-cut chance though. West Ham eventually scramble it clear.

Emerson whips a great cross into the box at the other end, hacked away at the near post.

Aston Villa 0-0 West Ham

16:52 , Matt Verri

19 mins: Villa very much on top now.

Diaby lines up a strike from distance, Bowen flies out and throws himself in front of the shot. Superb block.

Malik Ouzia at Villa Park

16:50 , Matt Verri

In other news, I think Kurt Zouma has just tried to pass a goal-kick to Thilo Kehrer - who is on the bench today and out warming up on the touchline.

Malik Ouzia at Villa Park

16:49 , Matt Verri

Huge let off for West Ham.

Plenty of talk in the build-up about the bond Diaby and Watkins have struck up so quickly since the former's arrival and it really should have had them 1-0 up here.

Aston Villa 0-0 West Ham

16:48 , Matt Verri

16 mins: HUGE MISS.

Villa looked certain to open the scoring. Watkins can't believe it.

Diaby fizzes the ball into the middle, first touch is perfect but Watkins drags the shot wide.

Aston Villa 0-0 West Ham

16:46 , Matt Verri

14 mins: Sharp from Bowen at the other end - been an entertaining start to this match.

Throw-in from Coufal, Bowen lets it run across his body and fires a first-time effort at goal. Comfortable enough save for Martinez.

Malik Ouzia at Villa Park

16:44 , Matt Verri

Heck of a save, that.

It draws a gasp from the home crowd and some grudging applause when the replay's shown on the big screen.

Aston Villa 0-0 West Ham

16:43 , Matt Verri

11 mins: Great save!

Luiz from distance, whips a strike towards the top corner and Areola does brilliantly to tip it behind.

Aston Villa 0-0 West Ham

16:41 , Matt Verri

9 mins: Twice West Ham have been caught offside already, but this time they do time the run and pass.

Paqueta over the top to Antonio, he gets in behind but the first touch isn't good enough. He was onside.

Aston Villa 0-0 West Ham

16:38 , Matt Verri

6 mins: Paqueta thinks he's away down the left wing, but eventually the whistle goes.

Referee takes his time before deciding that the Brazilian had fouled Kamara. Hammers less than impressed.

Aston Villa 0-0 West Ham

16:36 , Matt Verri

4 mins: Zaniolo getting into some good positions in the early stages here, can't quite pick out a final ball yet.

Villa dominating the ball after that early West Ham charge, as we probably expected.

Malik Ouzia at Villa Park

16:34 , Matt Verri

Kurt Zouma the first outfield player I've watched in the flesh wearing gloves this season.

Always an ominous day in the calendar.

Aston Villa 0-0 West Ham

16:34 , Matt Verri

2 mins: Chaotic start!

Ball poked through to Paqueta, he's through on goal. Brilliant footwork, squares it for Bowen and it's a superb save from Martinez.

All for nothing... offside flag up. And breathe.

KICK-OFF!

16:32 , Matt Verri

Up and running at Villa Park!

16:31 , Matt Verri

Minute's silence will be held ahead of kick-off as a mark of respect to the victims of the Israel-Gaza war.

Tributes also being paid to Sir Bobby Charlton.

Here we go!

16:26 , Matt Verri

Teams are in the tunnel at Villa Park, home side kept waiting a bit.

Great atmosphere as ever - big test this for West Ham.

Malik Ouzia at Villa Park

16:19 , Matt Verri

The PA here has gone for Freed From Desire early doors and it gets absolutely no response from the home fans, but sets the away end bouncing to 'Bowen's On Fire'.

Is there a sleeper Hammer in the announcer's box?

David Moyes speaks ahead of kick-off...

16:17 , Matt Verri

"Sometimes I get told I can't win at certain grounds but this one I have a good record at so hopefully I can keep it up," Moyes tells Sky Sports.

"It's really important that we get settled and with the European and cup games we've had to rotate the squad, I want competition.

"Hopefully we can show how we have been playing in the early part of the season. If you look over the years Aston Villa have grown greatly."

Malik Ouzia at Villa Park

16:11 , Matt Verri

Two sides in good form - should be a great watch!

Bowen going nowhere

16:06 , Matt Verri

Jarrod Bowen says he never wants to leave West Ham after signing a new contract with the club.

The 26-year-old had been linked with both Liverpool and Newcastle after impressing in east London following a £20m move from Hull in January 2020.

West Ham had been desperate to secure his long-term future, having effectively been forced into selling Declan Rice to Arsenal this summer after the midfielder rejected a series of lucrative contract offers.

Earlier this month, the Irons confirmed the forward had extended his contract until the summer of 2030, with his previous deal only running until 2025.

“This club gave me the opportunity when no one else wanted to,” Bowen said.

“It’s only fair that I repay that faith. I want to stay here and I want to stay here for the rest of my career.”

Villa bosses past and present!

15:57 , Matt Verri

Dean Smith and Unai Emery speak ahead of kick-off...

Antonio backs Ward-Prowse

15:51 , Matt Verri

Michail Antonio is “upset" England manager Gareth Southgate after his decision not to call up James Ward-Prowse.

Team-mate Antonio believes the midfielder was unfortunate to have been overlooked, telling The Footballer’s Football Podcast: “I am upset with Southgate.

"The stats say that Ward-Prowse is doing everything week in week out to play for England so it is mad he has not been picked.

"I think that when you are playing at your best you should be rewarded and for me that is England. He has been unbelievable.

"I understand managers like to pick players they trust, but he has got players in there who are not even playing. I do not like that."

Zaniolo involved for Villa

15:38 , Matt Verri

One change for Aston Villa from the side that drew with Wolves before the international break.

Nicolo Zaniolo starts for the hosts, despite his involvement in an investigation into alleged breaches of betting rules in Italy.

West Ham are unchanged, which means Mohammad Kudus once again has to settle for a place on the bench, his wait for a first Premier League start goes on.

West Ham team news

15:32 , Matt Verri

Starting XI: Areola, Coufal, Zouma, Aguerd, Emerson,Ward-Prowse, Alvarez, Soucek, Paqueta, Bowen, Antonio.

Subs: Fabianski, Fornals, Kudus, Mavropanos, Ings, Ogbonna,Benrahma, Kehrer, Mubama.

Aston Villa team news

15:31 , Matt Verri

Starting XI: Martinez, Konsa, Kamara, Torres, Digne, Cash,Zaniolo, Douglas Luiz, McGinn, Diaby, Watkins.

Subs: Carlos, Tielemans, Traore, Chambers, Lenglet, Olsen,Bailey, Dendoncker, Kellyman.

Stand by...

15:24 , Matt Verri

We'll be getting all the team news from Villa Park very shortly.

David Moyes has talked up Mohammed Kudus in the build-up to this match, but it would still be a bit of a surprise if he started here.

We'll find out in the next five minutes.

Visitors have arrived!

15:16 , Matt Verri

The West Ham players are in the building...

Chelsea made 'ridiculous' Kudus offer

15:08 , Matt Verri

Chelsea failed to sign Mohammed Kudus despite agreeing personal terms with the Ghana winger before he moved to West Ham, the player's agent has revealed.

Jen Mendelewitsch told RMC Sport that a "ridiculous" offer in the region of £17million was rejected as the Blues left the door open for West Ham, who would sign the 23-year-old in a £38m deal late in the window.

Kudus was apparently not the only player to receive this low-ball approach due to Chelsea's negotiating time being taken up by their move for Moises Caicedo.

"We reached an agreement with Chelsea, we agreed the contract with Chelsea but the deal was not done," she said.

"He talked with the coach but in the end it didn't happen because Chelsea made a ridiculous offer to Ajax.

"There was no counter offer. Chelsea did this with lots of players this summer, making very low offers to clubs knowing that they would not be accepted."

Progress clear for both sides

14:57 , Matt Verri

When West Ham visit Aston Villa today, the home side will be celebrating an anniversary of sorts.

This weekend marks exactly a year since Steven Gerrard was sacked by Villa for taking nine points from their opening 11 games of last season. The former England midfielder was succeeded three days later by Unai Emery, and Villa have never looked back.

When Gerrard was sacked, there were just two points between Villa and West Ham near the foot of the table, and the same margin separates the sides ahead of this weekend’s game, albeit in dramatically different circumstances.

Villa have been transformed under Emery from a rabble into a well-drilled, often-exhilarating side, and the state of the two clubs a year on from the Spaniard’s appointment is another reminder of the job David Moyes has done — and continues to do.

Click here for Dan Kilpatrick's full preview!

Ten on the bounce

14:49 , Matt Verri

Aston Villa on a run of ten straight Premier League wins at home, since they were beaten by Arsenal back in February.

Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest, Newcastle, Fulham, Tottenham, Brighton, Everton, Crystal Palace, Brighton.... West Ham?

Bowen: I'm playing best football of my career

14:41 , Matt Verri

Jarrod Bowen says playing the “best football” in his career has propelled him back into Gareth Southgate’s squad after admitting the World Cup snub was a disappointment.

The 26-year-old earned all four of his caps just before the World Cup but wasn’t among the group travelling to Qatar last winter.

Bowen went on to bag the winning goal in West Ham’s Conference League final victory over Fiorentina last summer. He has since scored five goals and registered two assists in his first nine games this season, but addressed the disappointment he felt last time out.

“I was disappointed to miss out but that’s what happened,” he said.

“I had to deal with it and all I could do was keep playing football to a level that I know that I can play at and everything will take care of itself.

“I think obviously the way I started this season I’m probably playing the best football that I’ve played, I think, in my career."

Stage is set!

14:33 , Matt Verri

Cloudy afternoon at Villa Park, but it's dry.... for now.

Standard Sport prediction

14:27 , Matt Verri

Emery's side have now won their last 10 matches on home soil in the Premier League, conceding only four goals in that run, and they will be confident of keeping the streak going here.

The Hammers have been much-improved this season, but may struggle to keep that potent Villa attack quiet.

Aston Villa win, 2-1.

West Ham team news

14:20 , Matt Verri

Mohammed Kudus is pushing to make his first Premier League start at Aston Villa.

West Ham manager David Moyes has confirmed the £31million summer signing is “very close” to being named in his starting XI after he scored a brilliant late equaliser in the 2-2 draw with Newcastle before the international break.

“He is very close to playing,” said Moyes. “But to be fair to him, he was close when he arrived. Sometimes players come in at different levels of fitness and you need time to figure out where they are at, but Mo could play now and he has been playing."

West Ham have no fresh injuries after the international break.

Moyes said on Friday: "Aaron Cresswell and Ben Johnson are coming on. I think Ben might just be a bit ahead but, are they ready yet? I'm not quite sure yet."

Predicted West Ham XI: Areola; Coufal, Zouma, Aguerd, Emerson; Ward-Prowse, Alvarez, Soucek; Bowen, Antonio, Paqueta

Aston Villa team news

14:13 , Matt Verri

Jacob Ramsey has had to endure an injury-hit season so far and that continues this weekend, with the midfielder still out with a foot injury.

Alex Moreno is closing in on a return from a hamstring injury, as he eyes his first Premier League minutes of the season, but this match comes too soon, and Tyrone Mings and Emi Buendia remain long-term absentees.

How to watch Aston Villa vs West Ham

14:07 , Matt Verri

TV channel: The game will be broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Ultra HDR. Coverage begins at 3.30pm BST.

Live stream: Sky Sports subscribers will be able to watch on a live stream via the Sky Go app.

Live blog: Follow all the action right here with us!

Good afternoon!

14:00 , Matt Verri

Hello and welcome to Standard Sport's LIVE coverage of Aston Villa vs West Ham!

It's the only Premier League action of the day after yesterday's busy fixture list, with Tottenham vs Fulham still to come tomorrow night.

Aston Villa and West Ham have both made strong starts for the season - chance for them to carry that on with a statement performance here.

We'll have all the latest updates, build-up and team news ahead of kick-off, which comes at 4:30pm BST from Villa Park. Stay with us!